Partitioned bottle carrier



- y 1945. A. WESSELMAN PART ITIONED BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Ma 26, 1953 a sh ds-sheet 1- 0/ .H a I,

. 5 a ---Q G-- iiillfililrlli 1 w J I: 1 z 6 0.. l \l I\ a INVENTOR' A M art Muse/man I :0 BY

, A WM A. WESSELMAN PARTITIONED BOTTLE CARIER Filed May 26, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Alter! Weasel/van B2 ATTjNg May 1, 1945. AL WESSELMAN PARTITIONED BOTTLE CARRIER 3 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed May 26, 1938 mi. l m I M M l M/ W. I m p 1 1 I. a 1 .4 H I, llllllllllllllll P fin a 6 6 w! ATT Patented lVlay 1, 1945 2,375,056 PARTITIONED BOTTLE CARRIER Albert Wesselman, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 2c, 1938, Serial No 210,212

' 13 Claims.

This invention relates to containers for packaging bottles and the like. and being of the general character shown in my Patent No. 2,171,-

615 and my .co-pending applications, Serial No. 118,621, filed December 3, -1936and abandoned, Serial No. 193,723 flled March 3, 1938 and Serial I Fig. 8 is a plan view of an extended carrier or blank from which the carrier shown in Fig. 7 is No. 200,952 filed April 8, 1938, and is a continuation in part of said applications.

An object of my invention is to provide a collapsible container for the packaging of bottles or a collapsible bottle carrier which when set up will provide a transverse and laterally partitioned structure into which bottles may be inserted through the top walls thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bottle carrier structure which will have partitions provided between bottles in the samerow as well as between bottles in an adjacent row, said partitions being integral with the prefabricated blank from which a carrier is fabricated;

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier which will house a plurality of symmetrical units, each unit being spaced from adjoining units contained in said carrier. by a series of transverse and lateral partitions, said partitions being integral with the carrier structure.

A further object of the invention is to teach how to make a bottle carrier or the like having integral transverse and lateral partitions, said carrier having either a detachable handle or having a handle structure formed integral with the carrier structure.

Still a further object is to produce a bottle car rier which will securely retain the bottles housed therein even though said carton or carrier be turned on its side or end.

Still a further object is to provide a partitioned bottle carrier which will easily fit within a case lot shipping case or carton in which a plurality of bottle filled carriers are placed for the purpose of transportation by truck etc.

fled formof an assembled carrier comprising the i invention.

made.

Fig. 9 is an end view of a completed carrier showing the form in which such a structure is fabricated for shipment to the ultimate user or bottling establishments.

The carrier itself comprises a prefabricated blank of single thickness fibrous material such as cardboard or the like so joined to form an endless structure or body member, as hereinafter disclosed. Such a structure is completely, assembled body orbottle housing member.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means disclosed herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of the assembled carrier walls I4 disposed on either side thereof. Aplu 4 comprising the invention. with bottles inserted. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the carrier show in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an extended carrier or blank from which the carrier shown in Fig. l ismade.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of an assembled carrier comprising the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an extended carrier or blank from which the carrier shown in Fig. 5 is made. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a second modiby. the carrier manumacturer as a flat'endless carrier (Fig, 9) which is shipped to the bottlers who set up such a flat assembled carrier as an extended carrier, the walls of which form a pentagon shaped body member or bottle receiving housing as shown in Fig. 1. Once set up as shown, bottles may be inserted into such' an extended structure through the top walls as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and likewise removed therefrom.

The'carrier is formed of ;a single, elongated or continuous piece of flexible sheet material. In referring thereto as continuous, it is intended to say that the sheet material is unitary but it is not intended to imply that'the sheet material is initially endless; however, when portions thereof are joined or connected, a substantial portion of the sheet material is developed into an endless The bottles shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, each comprising aneck portion In, an enlarged base portion I, and an intermediate bulbous portion i2, are shown merely to illustrate how the carrier comprising this invention will accommodate symmetrical units having other than uniform cylindrical vertical side walls.

As shown in Fig. 4, a blank is fabricated to form a bottom section l3, having identical side rality of spaced apertures l5 are stamped from said sidewalls. one suchaperture being provided for each unit to behoused within the completed carrier. Suitable score lines l8 extending transversely of 'the blank set off the bottom section l3 -from the ap'ertured side walls M as shown.

Top members I! are set of! from each side wall 14 by means of suitable score or fold lines l8,

the distance between pairs of adjacent score or f fold lines l6 and I8 defining theheight of the sidewalls.

Flaps [9 are provided in top members" in which allbut the lower central sections 20 are severed whereby said ilap may be folded inward about central scored section 20 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Flaps l9 are also provided with lateral score lines 2|. and 22 whereby the flap end secby or in association with the handle member of the container or carrier. If the handle member is integral-with the cardboard or sheet material, the handle member may be turned over or bent to substantially horizontal position at approximately the tops of any bottles resting on the bottom panel, as disclosed and xplained in my Patent 2,171,615 and copending applications. Thus vertical stacking of loaded containers is possible for conserving floor or storage space, and also attaining an attractive and effective display or the' grouped containers and their contents.

duced to a minimum, being cheaper than a stitched or stapled joint.

Since a carrier must be glued with the adhesively coated surfaces in a flat, lapped relationship it becomes necessary to provide a transverse fold line 80 (Fig. 4) located in the side wall adjacent the tab 28 and disposed diagonally of the opposite side wall-top defining score line I8 whereby a prefabricated blank may be folded flat on fold lines 80 and I8 .to expedite gluing. The completed assembled carriers are shipped to the various bottlers in this folded flat condition as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

The handle receiving slits 30 of an assembled carrier are aligned one below-the other whereby a double thickness of stock extends outward from both ends of the handle receiving slits 30 to the outermost edge of the carrier structure trans versely of the apex. f

The assembled carriers are shipped flat to the ultimate users or bottlers who set up or extend the flat carriers and till same with bottles in the Each severed perimeter 26 resulting from the formation of flap members I9 is so proportioned andpositioned relative to the side wall-top defining score line I8 as to furnish a positive bottleneck contacting surface as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Such a bottle-neck contacting surface is essential to provide the anchorage or retaining force necessary to'properly align each bottle as will hereinafter be more fully discussed.

As shown in Fig. 1 the carrier comprises a structure, the top members of which converge to form an apex A substantially below the level of the tops of the bottles B. .The apex A is formed by folding top members I1 on transverse score lines 2! whereby two tabs of unequal length are provided. As shown in Fig. 4, a small tab 28 is provided adjacent the left hand side top member I'I, while a large tab hereinafter referred to as transverse partition member 29 is provided adjacent the right, hand side top member A II. It; should be here noted that the tab and transverse Y partition member-may be interchanged side for side,if desired.

following manner: A p The opposite sides of the assembled 'but folded can'iers are separated whereby a pentagonal sided structure results (Fig. 1). Such setting up of the assembled carriers may be expedited by means of a boxlike structure as disclosed -in,my copending application No. 172,883 filedNovember 5, 1937, issued Nov. 18, 1941 as Patent No. 2,263,411,

which enables an operator'to readily unfold an assembled carrier and which maintains the extended carrier in position for the insertion of bottles. I

Once the carrier has assumed a pentagonal shape a'handle I'II forjned'as disclosed in my co-pending application Serialv No. 200,952, filed April 8, 1938, is adapted to be inserted upward through slit 90 in apex A so that the riser por- 40 tions I12 of such handle will -i'all .within the The central portion of the apex forming score line 21 is slitted through longitudinally whereby a handle receiving cut 30 is provided, the length of said cuts being defined by the location of suitable circular cuts as 3|. p

A carrier is assembled by the carrier manufact'urer from such a prefabricated blank by folding the transverse partition 29 inward on score line 21 so that said partition 29 will be interiorly disposed within the completed flat assembled carrier. The tab 28 is lapped over the upper outer edge of that top member which terminates in partition 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and there permanently attached by adhesive or otherwsie by the carrier manufacturer. v I

It should be noted that this type of bottle carrier structure is particularly adapted for glue assemblage because the tab 28 extends over apex A to lap over and extend down transversely over that portion of the top member which terminates in partition 29.- The elements of the jointare so disposed whereby they will have 'a tendency to slide one upon the other under the weight of a loaded carrier, which relationship constitutes an ideal glue joint. the advantages inherent in such a.- joint viz., ease and speed of making, become a favorable factor whereby the assembly cost of the carrier is 'recircular cuts 3| I When a handle is being inserted upward through slits 3!! care should be exercised-to make certain that the handle is inserted upward on that side of transverse partition 29 which is ,ad- Jacent its associated top member or within the apex formed by the partition 29 and its associated top member.- In this manner a double thickness of stock is provided along the load supporting termini I0 of said handle.

When the carrier is soset up or extended the transverse partition 29 extends downward from the apex A, and as shown in Fig. 1 it extends almost to the bottom member is whereby to function as a full length central partition member between the two transverse rows of bottles.

The flap portions I9 are then knocked or folded outward of the carrier structureon score lines 2|] Q whereby a bottle receiving aperture is provided through each top member I1, each such aperture having a perimeter 26 (Fig. 3). The end bottles l0 and ll, and Ill and Ill are then inserted through the flap opening provided through the top member I'I,' the bottles of each row being sep- 5 arated by thetransverse partition 29. As the center bottles 42 and I 42 are inserted, the base Since a glue joint may be used portions of each bottle are brought upward beneath one of the flaps I9 whereby said fi'aps' are folded inward of the carrier as the center bottles are further inserted; The flap ends 23 and 24 are forced about the base portions of the bottle 42 and I42 as said flap ends are passed over the bulbous portion of the and bottles 40 and ll and I and HI respectively, until said flap ends have been folded entirely within the carrier so as to bottles are inserted. simultaneously one from either sidewofthe carrier, and by reason of the transverse partitionthe base portions of each bottle are easily caused to slip into place coming to rest on. the bottom l3.

Such a transverse partition as effectively as'raoso extend centerward on either side'of the center battle as shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3'. The center 3 on Fis 4.

prevents sanding of the bottles at the bulbous and base portions, and since said partition is fixedrelative to the carrier structure, it acts as a bottle guidewhen the bottles are being inserted.' Further, such partition enables an operator to insert bottles faster than weresuch a partition not pres, cut because as pairs of bottles are. inserted, one

from each side, the bases of the bottles abut the smooth wall of the partition down which they easilyslip into position. as contrasted with the conditions encountered where such a partition is not present in which thebutt of one bottleis caused to pass downthe side of one bottle-of the pair already positioned in the other row. Lateral partitioning'is effected by means of the flap, ends 23 and 24 which separate bottles of the same row as shown in Figs. 1-, 2, and 31 transverse and lateral partitions is illustrated in Fig. 5, said carrier being formed with min tegral handle formed from one side'ot thecarrier, the central transverse partition being formed integral with the other side of the carrier. Similar parts bear the same numerals on Fig. 6 as prefabricated blank by folding: the transverse partition 53 back on itself on suitable score lines 54 which are spaced a distance from-the adjacent score; lines as to provide suitable-Spaceto provide a fastening area 55, through which suitable fastening means" such as staples, 56, or the like,.may be inserted. Such an assembled carrier is shipped in a flatconditionto the bot- Each bottle is securely held within an extended carrier by reason of the fact that the transverse partition and the perimeters-26 of top member of the carrier structure exert an outward force on the bottles whereby the base portions of each bottle are snugly seated within" the spaced apertures l5. thetransversepartitions performing the dual function .of physically separating the botties of each row and of forcing said bottles outward against the side walls; The perimeter 26' functions to position the top portion of each bottle so that the base of each bottle will be properlyaligned relative to the transverse partition and the wall aperture l5.

It should be noted that a direct vertical pull is exerted by the load bearing termini 10 upon the uncut portions of apex A on either side of through slits 30.. The load of a filled carrier is transmitted from the base 13 through side walls it to the uncut portions of said apex through the bearing strap C which comprises the strip of stock in the top members between the outer edges of the flaps l5 and the adjacent outermost edges of thecarrier. A certain part'of the load is also transmitted to the-apex through the transtlers, the carrier being folded on base median line 51 and on apex A. l V

A second modified form of carrier is shown inv Fig. 7 in which similar parts bear similar reference numbers to those'parts set out in Figs. 1

to 4 inclusiveQ .Score lines 80 and 6| (Fig. 8) determine the apex formed by, the convergent top members l1. One top member I! terminates inasuitable handle member 62 having a suitable hand' opening as 63 provided therein. The sec- 0nd convergent top member.l'| terminates in a transverse partition 54. Suitable bearing elements 65 and 86 are provided integral with said.

" top member,- being severed from the transverse partition member 84 by suitable through cuts as 51 and 68. and 69 and 10. whereby the partition member 64 is attached to top member I! along the central portion of the score line GI between parallel bearing surface defining cuts" and 10.

A median score l ne 12 is provided transverselyv of bottom l3 for assembly purposes. A carrier is factory assembled from such a prefabricated blank by folding the bearing elements 65 and 66 under the convergent top member verse partition against eitherside of which the bottles are tightly pressed when such a loaded carrier is lifted by means of a-h'andle..

If desired, the transverse central partition member may be terminated at a point somewhat belowthe bulbousportion'of the bottles whereby the transverse partitions will not act to separate the base portions of opposed bottles in each of the two transverse rows.

A carrier made as indicated inFigs. 1 to. 4 inelusive, is 'quite compact and whether a detach-- able handle isused or not such a filled carton will very readily lend itself for stacking pur-.

poses, as more fully explained in my co-pending application Serial No. 200,952, filed April '8, 1938.

Due to the novel design and compactness of the carrier-hereindisclosed a lighter or less expensivecardboard stock may be used from which to fabricate such carriers.

Such a handle as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2,-and 3, is. adapted to rest upon the bulbous portions of adjacent bottles when in a- "retracted" position as more fully disclosed in my aforementionedcopending patent application Serial No. 200,952.

A modified form of carrier having. integral which terminates in handle memberv 62 and so that the transverse partition member 54 will extend downward into the interior of thecarrier structure formed .thereby. ,Suitable fastening means as staples ll, may be used to fasten the bearing surfaces 65 and 66 to the under side of the opposite'top member, as clearly shown inFi 7. .The assembled carrier is 'shipprd in a flat condition to the bottlers where it is extended and filled with bottles.

- From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an inexpensive bottle carrier havi'ng transverse and lateral partitions formed integral-- 1y therewith, said carrier structure being assembled by the'carrier manufacturer and shipped in a flat condition to the ultimate user. Said carrier being set up or extended by such ultimate user to form an open pcnt'gonal ended carrier, bottles may be inserted into said extended carrier through the top members thereof.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural detailsof the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

. 1. A container for thepackaging of bottles or the like comprising a base, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite edges of said base, a pair of upwardly convergent top members, one connected to the upper edge of each side wall, each top member having a flap formed therefrom, each flap having only the central portion of its lower edge-attached along the upper portion of its respective side wall, movement of said flaps laterally relative to said top members providing bottle receiving openings in the top members, each of said openings extending across the greater portion of the width of the top members, said top members converging and joined to form an apex, the vertical distance from said base to said apex being substantially less than the overall height of any unit of merchandise to be housed within said container, one top member terminatintegrally connected convergent top members,

each top member having a flap formed therefrom and providing thereby a. bottle receiving opening extending across the greater portion of the width of the top member, the perimeter of each flap being entirely severed from its associated top member except along the central ortion of its lower edge which is attached to the upper edge of its respective side wall, said flaps being laterally scored so as to set on central and end portions adapted to be turned at right angles to said central section whereby to provide lateral partitions between adjacent articles of a row of articles disposed adjacent the same side wall of the container, a transverse partition member formed integral with and suspended "from one top. member whereby articles disposed in a row adjacent one side wall of the container are separated from those in a row adjacent the other side wall of the container.

3. A container package for packaging beverage bottles which have a neck and an enlarged base with an intermediate bulbous portion, said package comprising a sheet of prefabricated fibrous material, said sheet being scored transversely to form a bottom, a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of upwardly convergent top members extending from the sides and meeting at a top apex located below the level of the bottle tops,

one top member being extended beyond the apex and turned downwardly between the side walls to terminate in a partition disposed transversely of the interior of the container, the second top member being extended beyond the apex to make connection with the other top member for forming a continuous or endless structure or body member, a handle for the body member, each top member having a flap formed thereing providing at each of its opposite ends a bottle-neck positioning edge adapted to contact the neck of an adjacent bottle.

4. A container for the packaging of bottles comprising a base, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite edges of said base, a pair of upwardly convergent and connected top members each connected to the upper edge of a side wall, each top member having a bottle receiving open-' ing formed therein and extending across the greater portion of the width thereof, the material removed from saidopenings being formed into flaps each having connection with the container and each flap being scored laterally whereby to provide'partitions extending laterally of the container, said converging top members forming an apex intermediate and above the side walls of the container, and a handle for the container and extending upwardly from said apex.

5. A container for the packaging of bottles comprising a base, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite edges of said base, a pair of upwardly convergent top members each connected to the upper edge of a side wall each top member having a bottle receiving opening formed therein and extending across the greater portion of the width thereof, the material originally lying within said openings being developed into flaps, each having its lower edge hingedly connected to a side wall, said flaps being scored laterally whereby to provide partitions laterally of the container, said top members converg to form an apex, one top member being extended 'over said apex to terminate interiorly or the container whereby to form a transverse partition, the second top,

member being extended over said apex in a lapped relationship to the first top member transversely of the apex whereby a unitary structure is formed, said apex having a' longitudinal slit extending centrally thereof whereby to provide uncut apex portions on either side of said slit whereby to side walls, each top member having an aperture from. said flaps being scored laterally whereby to form central and end portions adapted to be turned at right angles to said central section when the flaps are turned downward; whereby to provide partitions disposed laterally of the container and extending between adjacent bottles; the downward turning of the flaps providing openings in the top members, each openor opening formed therein and extending across the greater portion of the width of the top member, said flaps being scored laterally whereby to form central and end portions adapted to be turned at right angles to said central section whereby to provide opposed lateralpartitions disposed interiorly of the container, one top member being extended downward from the apex terminating in a partition disposed intermediate and,

between theside walls, and extending lengthwise of the interior of the container and at right angles to the lateral partitions, the second top member being extended upward from the apex to form a handle portion, the two top members being connected adjacent the apex to form a unitary structure, said'handle and partition being approximately coplanar and substantially integral whereby any load directed or impressed upon said partition is transmitted directly to said handle.

7. A paperboard container for the packaging of bottles, formed of a single continuous piece or sheet material and comprising a base, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite ed of said base, a pair of upwardly convergent top approximately equal and identical bottle receiving chambers, one each of which chambers 'bein'g aligned with a bottle receiving opening and face. of each of the sides, a partition member adapted to accommodate a plurality of bottles,

the second top member being permanently fastened relative to the first top member whereby to form an endless bottle receiving body structure v and a handle at the apex of the container.

, 8. In a container for the packaging of bottles and the like,- a body formed of paper board material or the like and including a bottom panel and side panels extending upwardly at opposite sides thereof, the upper portions of said side panels being connected to each other and being each provided in its upper portion with a bottlereceiving aperture spaced below the connection of said side panels, and each aperture extending across the greater portion of the width of the container, said apertures each being of a width noless than the diameter of any of the articles to be received by the container, a combined partition and stiffening member extending inwardly of the container from adjacent the connection of said side panels and'adapted to cooperate with the conjoined side .panels and with articles received between the side panels and lying on oppo-.

site sides of said partition and stiffening member, for bracing the portions of the material at the sides of the bottle receiving openings and for transferring some of the load of the carrier to those portions of the carrier disposed above said bottle receiving openings, and a handle for the container.

9. A cbntainer for the packaging of bottles and th like comprising a base, a pair of sides, one each attached'to opposite edges of the base, a pair of topmemberseachconnected tothe upper edge of a side, and converging to form an apex above th center line of the base, each top member having a perforation therein providing an included flap having its lower central edge only attached to the, upper central portion ofits respective side and along one edge of the rperfora: tion, each flap being turned downwardly inside and fiatwise along thepair of sides and each flap having end portions turned centerward' of the device along vertical linesof fold whereby to provide a series of compartments along the inner face of each of the sides. a

10. A container for the packagin of bottles comprising a base, a pair of sides attachedito opposite edges of the base and each having spaced pockets along its lower edge,'a pair of top members each connected to the upp f edge of a side, each top member having, aflap formed therefrom and having its lower central edge only attached along'the upper'central portion of its respective side, each flap being tumed-downwardly between the pairof sides and each flap having its end portions turned centerward of the! device,.along vertical lines of. fold whereby to between the inturned end portions of the flaps and a handle member extending upwardly from the top members and having an aperture therein comprising a base, a pair of sides attached to opposite edges of the base, a pair of top members each connected to the upper edge of a side,

each top member having a flap formed therefrom, each flap having its lower central edge only attached along the upper central portion of its respective side, each flap being turned downwardly between the pair of sides and each.

flap having its end portions turned centerward of the device along vertical lines of-fold whereby to provide a series of compartments along the inner 'face of each of the sides, a partition member between the intumed end portions of the flaps, the base having a median score line extending longitudinally of the container, and a handle for the container. 7

12. A container for the packaging of bottles comprising abase, a pair of sides attached to opposite edges 'of the base and each having spaced pockets along its lower edge, apair of top members each connected to the upper edge of a side, each top member having a flap formed therefrom, each flap having its lower central edge only attached along the upper central portion of its respective side, each flap being turned downwardly between the pair of sides and each flap haying its end portions turned centerward ofthe device along vertical lines of fold whereby to provide a series of compartments along the inner face of each of theisides, a partition member between the intumedend portions of the fla/ps, the base having'a median score line extending longitudinally of the container, and a 45 handle for the container.

portions thereof fixedly attached together to.

provide an endless-body having a plurality of parallel fold lines extending across the width thereof for providing a hollow pentagonal shaped container, one of the portions thereof disposed between anadjaeent pair of fold lines consti'-- tuting a base therefor, the portions thereof adjacent to and contiguous with the base constituting substantially parallel spaced side walls thereof andthe remaining two portions providing an apex over said base and constituting top members" thereof, said top members each having 1 an elongated bottle receiving opening therein,

'said'o'penihgs extending across the greater portion of the width of said top members, a portion of said sheet material extending through said apex and depending insubstantial parallelism with-the side walls and intothe space between the sidewalls and approximately equally dividing said space into a pair. of bottle receiving pockets disposed on op'posite sides of said base, and a handle at the apex oi' the'container.

provide a series of compartments along the inner 

